Luscavage_Lens4

Lens 4

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Purpose: To show how The Invention of Hugo Cabret can be applied different assignments pertaining to the Language Arts Common Core Standards for grades 3-5.
Audience: Fellow Teachers
Genre: Reader-as-writer
Engagement: To make The Invention of Hugo Cabret relevant to both students and Language Arts

• The Invention of Hugo Cabret offers teachers many different directions to go in. Creating a writing assignment around the novel can be both beneficial and fun. Since this book is mysterious, students can be assigned a creative writing piece where they are placed in Hugo’s place. They have to decide what they would do when they came across the toy store. Students can then begin to discuss what their toy would look like and do if they were able to create one. Accompanying this assignment with one where students are able to draw their toy will spark their interest in the writing aspect.
• It can also be used to exemplify story aspects. The parts of the toys in the toy shop can be equated to the parts of the story (setting, character, themes, etc.) Relate to students that if a toy is missing a part, it cannot not function properly. A story is the same way. It needs all parts to work. Singling out toys like Legos or blocks can help with this. Alone, they’re useless. However, when put together they can build castles and houses. Alone, the parts of a story are meaningless. But when put together they offer the reader an adventure to go on.
• Since the novel is so long, having students track their ideas, and draw on concept clues to make predictions will be beneficial to them. Journaling is a great way to do this. Students are able to write without the impending doom of it being graded. As students become more comfortable with their journaling, their writing skills will improve.